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Sarafina! poster

Sarafina! (1992)

Overview

The plot centers on students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to the implementation of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in schools. The stage version presents a school uprising similar to the Soweto uprising on June 16, 1976. A narrator introduces several characters among them the school girl activist Sarafina. Things get out of control when a policeman shoots several pupils in a classroom. Nevertheless, the musical ends with a cheerful farewell show of pupils leaving school, which takes most of act two. In the movie version Sarafina feels shame at her mother's (played by Miriam Makeba in the film) acceptance of her role as domestic servant in a white household in apartheid South Africa, and inspires her peers to rise up in protest, especially after her inspirational teacher, Mary Masombuka (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film version) is imprisoned.
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Darrell James Roodt profile
Darrell James Roodt

Director

Mbongeni Ngema profile
Mbongeni Ngema

Screenplay

Cast

Leleti Khumalo profile
Leleti Khumalo

Sarafina

Whoopi Goldberg profile
Whoopi Goldberg

Mary Masembuko

John Kani profile
John Kani

School Principal

Miriam Makeba profile
Miriam Makeba

Angelina

Mary Twala profile
Mary Twala

Sarafina's Grandmother

Dumisani Dlamini profile
Dumisani Dlamini

Crocodile

Mbongeni Ngema profile
Mbongeni Ngema

Sabela

Tertius Meintjes profile
Tertius Meintjes

Lieutenant Bloem

Robert Whitehead profile
Robert Whitehead

Interrogator

Greg Latter profile
Greg Latter

Policeman

Nicky Rebelo profile
Nicky Rebelo

Soldier

James Whyle profile
James Whyle

Soldier

Leleti Khumalo profile
Leleti Khumalo

Sarafina

Whoopi Goldberg profile
Whoopi Goldberg

Mary Masembuko

John Kani profile
John Kani

School Principal

Miriam Makeba profile
Miriam Makeba

Angelina

Mary Twala profile
Mary Twala

Sarafina's Grandmother

Dumisani Dlamini profile
Dumisani Dlamini

Crocodile

Mbongeni Ngema profile
Mbongeni Ngema

Sabela

Tertius Meintjes profile
Tertius Meintjes

Lieutenant Bloem

Robert Whitehead profile
Robert Whitehead

Interrogator

Greg Latter profile
Greg Latter

Policeman

Nicky Rebelo profile
Nicky Rebelo

Soldier

James Whyle profile
James Whyle

Soldier

Extra

Release Date

September 18, 1992

Original Language

English, Zulu

Budget

$0.00

Production Company

BBC logoVanguard Films logoDistant Horizon logoIdeal logoLes Films Ariane logoVideovision Entertainment logoHollywood Pictures logoMiramax logo

Available On

Currently it's not available for streaming.
You can visit JustWatch for more information.

Videos

Sarafina Trailer thumbnail
Sarafina Trailer
Sarafina thumbnail
Sarafina

Images

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movie backdrop 1
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